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ANABOLIC STEROIDS...LOSING AT WINNING
Bear Bryant, the legendary University of Alabama football coach, used
to say after his team would be unimpressive in winning: "Sometimes you
lose when you win."
That pretty well sums up the use of anabolic steroids, too. You might
win some muscle, but sooner or later you'll most likely be wearing a
loser label.
Anabolic steroids may help put muscle on some people when they're used
while lifting weights. However, the list of side effects or adverse
reactions from steroids runs longer than the number of All-Americans
that even Bear Bryant could produce in his many years of coaching.
Many people who use steroids are aware of the possible side effects, or
adverse reactions, but they figure that most of the problems will be in
the future and the future is a long way off. Not so. Acne, sexual
function problems, rashes, and the infamous and uncontrollable "roid
rages" are among the possible immediate consequences. Long-term side
effects may include early heart disease and liver tumors.
The argument is made that anabolic steroids help a person recover from
injuries. There is precious little evidence to support that claim.
Actually, anabolic steroids aren't very popular as prescription drugs.
They are used for certain types of cancer treatment and for some rare
conditions, including a disease called hereditary angioedema, which is
hardly a threat to those able to pump iron.
Anabolic steroids came to be used by athletes more than 30 years ago
after the Russians and East European athletes dominated some
international sports events. It was learned that their athletes had
bolstered themselves with a male hormone called testosterone. Anabolic
steroids are a synthetic version of testosterone, developed in the
1960s. Their American developer, Dr. John B. Ziegler, was later to tell
Sports Illustrated that he wished he could have taken that chapter out
of his life.
Those Communist athletes who won so many victories did so at great
expense. They were taking so much of the male hormone that many of the
male athletes had to be catheterized (a tube inserted in the penis) in
order to urinate. The women were so masculine-appearing that chromosome
tests had to be conducted to prove that they were females.
Testosterone has many jobs to do within the body. Among other things,
it stimulates the development of bone, muscle, skin and hair growth as
well as emotional responses. The body produces 2 1/2 to 10 milligrams
of testosterone a day in an adult male. Of course, weight lifters are
known to take many times that amount in a single day.
When the body gets too much testosterone, it reacts in many ways. One
response may be to shut down skeletal growth mechanisms, resulting in
stunted growth in children, or shriveled testicles, or lowered sperm
counts, or balding.
Women produce very little of the hormone. So they take on masculine
characteristics when they use steroids. Some of those traits never
return to normal.
Long as it is, the list of side effects or adverse reactions from
anabolic steroids may not be as long as it should be. That's because
steroids haven't been studied in the amounts and combinations
("stacking") being taken today by many weight lifters. Nor does it take
into account the adverse reactions that might result when steroids are
taken with other drugs, such as those used to counteract unwanted
steroid side effects.
Actually, steroids are not prescribed very often, so a black market has
sprung up to supply athletes. However, buyers beware: Black-market
steroids often come from underground laboratories or foreign countries
and are of very questionable quality and purity. In fact, they may not
even be steroids. The black market has problems of its own -- in May
1987, for instance, 34 people were charged with conspiracy to make,
smuggle and distribute counterfeit steroids after a federal
investigation.
The National Football League has added anabolic steroids to its roster
of test drugs. Players were tested in the training camps in August
1987 for the first time. Positive results bring suspensions and could
lead to being thrown out of the league.
More musclemen, athletes and other sports officials are denouncing the
drugs. Jesse Ventura, the TV wrestling commentator, movie star and
muscleman in his own right, says he tried steroids, learned about them
and realized "they have no place on my training table."
"Mr. Olympia" -- Lee Haney -- notes that muscle gain from steroids is
only temporary and adds: "You'll ultimately make your best body-
building gains if you avoid steroid usage and just concentrate on hard
training and good nutrition."
In a letter to all NFL players, Commissioner Pete Rozelle said: "It is
recommended that you educate yourself and your teammates about the
hazards of anabolic steroids."
In other words, don't lose at winning. Pump iron, not trouble.
HOW YOU CAN LOSE WITH STEROIDS:
Established side effects or adverse reactions from anabolic
steroids are:
acne, cancer, cholesterol increase, clitoris enlargement, death edema
(water retention in tissue) fetal damage, frequent or continuing
erections (mature males) HDL, (good cholesterol) decrease, heart disease
hirsutism (hairiness in women - irreversible), increased frequency of
erections (boys), increased risk of coronary artery disease (heart
attack, stroke), jaundice, liver tumor, liver disease, male pattern
baldness (in women - irreversible), oily skin (females only), peliosis,
hepatitis (a liver disease) prostate enlargement, shrunken testicles,
sterility (reversible), stunted growth, swelling of feet or lower legs,
yellowing of the eyes or skin.
OTHER POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OR ADVERSE REACTIONS
aggressive, combative behavior (roid rage) anaphylactic shock (from
injections), abdominal or stomach pains black, tarry or light-colored
stools, bone pain, breast development (sore or swelling - male) chills,
diarrhea, dark-colored urine, depression, fever, fatigue, feeling of
discomfort, (continuing) frequent urge to urinate (mature males),
feeling of abdominal or stomach fullness, gallstones, hives, headache,
(continuing) hypercalcemia (too much calcium) high blood pressure
impotence, increased chance of injury to muscles, tendons and ligaments
plus longer recovery period from injuries, insomnia, kidney disease,
kidney stones (from hypercalcemia), listlessness, muscle cramps,
menstrual irregularities, nausea or vomiting, purple- or red-colored
spots on body, inside of mouth, or nose rash, septic shock,
(blood poisoning from injections) sexual problems, sore tongue,
unexplained darkening of skin, unexplained weight loss, unnatural hair
growth, unpleasant breath odor (continuing), unusual bleeding, unusual,
weight gain, urination problems, vomiting of blood.
Mark T. King, ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Bear Bryant, the legendary University of Alabama football coach, used
to say after his team would be unimpressive in winning: "Sometimes you
lose when you win."
That pretty well sums up the use of anabolic steroids, too. You might
win some muscle, but sooner or later you'll most likely be wearing a
loser label.
Anabolic steroids may help put muscle on some people when they're used
while lifting weights. However, the list of side effects or adverse
reactions from steroids runs longer than the number of All-Americans
that even Bear Bryant could produce in his many years of coaching.
Many people who use steroids are aware of the possible side effects, or
adverse reactions, but they figure that most of the problems will be in
the future and the future is a long way off. Not so. Acne, sexual
function problems, rashes, and the infamous and uncontrollable "roid
rages" are among the possible immediate consequences. Long-term side
effects may include early heart disease and liver tumors.
The argument is made that anabolic steroids help a person recover from
injuries. There is precious little evidence to support that claim.
Actually, anabolic steroids aren't very popular as prescription drugs.
They are used for certain types of cancer treatment and for some rare
conditions, including a disease called hereditary angioedema, which is
hardly a threat to those able to pump iron.
Anabolic steroids came to be used by athletes more than 30 years ago
after the Russians and East European athletes dominated some
international sports events. It was learned that their athletes had
bolstered themselves with a male hormone called testosterone. Anabolic
steroids are a synthetic version of testosterone, developed in the
1960s. Their American developer, Dr. John B. Ziegler, was later to tell
Sports Illustrated that he wished he could have taken that chapter out
of his life.
Those Communist athletes who won so many victories did so at great
expense. They were taking so much of the male hormone that many of the
male athletes had to be catheterized (a tube inserted in the penis) in
order to urinate. The women were so masculine-appearing that chromosome
tests had to be conducted to prove that they were females.
Testosterone has many jobs to do within the body. Among other things,
it stimulates the development of bone, muscle, skin and hair growth as
well as emotional responses. The body produces 2 1/2 to 10 milligrams
of testosterone a day in an adult male. Of course, weight lifters are
known to take many times that amount in a single day.
When the body gets too much testosterone, it reacts in many ways. One
response may be to shut down skeletal growth mechanisms, resulting in
stunted growth in children, or shriveled testicles, or lowered sperm
counts, or balding.
Women produce very little of the hormone. So they take on masculine
characteristics when they use steroids. Some of those traits never
return to normal.
Long as it is, the list of side effects or adverse reactions from
anabolic steroids may not be as long as it should be. That's because
steroids haven't been studied in the amounts and combinations
("stacking") being taken today by many weight lifters. Nor does it take
into account the adverse reactions that might result when steroids are
taken with other drugs, such as those used to counteract unwanted
steroid side effects.
Actually, steroids are not prescribed very often, so a black market has
sprung up to supply athletes. However, buyers beware: Black-market
steroids often come from underground laboratories or foreign countries
and are of very questionable quality and purity. In fact, they may not
even be steroids. The black market has problems of its own -- in May
1987, for instance, 34 people were charged with conspiracy to make,
smuggle and distribute counterfeit steroids after a federal
investigation.
The National Football League has added anabolic steroids to its roster
of test drugs. Players were tested in the training camps in August
1987 for the first time. Positive results bring suspensions and could
lead to being thrown out of the league.
More musclemen, athletes and other sports officials are denouncing the
drugs. Jesse Ventura, the TV wrestling commentator, movie star and
muscleman in his own right, says he tried steroids, learned about them
and realized "they have no place on my training table."
"Mr. Olympia" -- Lee Haney -- notes that muscle gain from steroids is
only temporary and adds: "You'll ultimately make your best body-
building gains if you avoid steroid usage and just concentrate on hard
training and good nutrition."
In a letter to all NFL players, Commissioner Pete Rozelle said: "It is
recommended that you educate yourself and your teammates about the
hazards of anabolic steroids."
In other words, don't lose at winning. Pump iron, not trouble.
HOW YOU CAN LOSE WITH STEROIDS:
Established side effects or adverse reactions from anabolic
steroids are:
acne, cancer, cholesterol increase, clitoris enlargement, death edema
(water retention in tissue) fetal damage, frequent or continuing
erections (mature males) HDL, (good cholesterol) decrease, heart disease
hirsutism (hairiness in women - irreversible), increased frequency of
erections (boys), increased risk of coronary artery disease (heart
attack, stroke), jaundice, liver tumor, liver disease, male pattern
baldness (in women - irreversible), oily skin (females only), peliosis,
hepatitis (a liver disease) prostate enlargement, shrunken testicles,
sterility (reversible), stunted growth, swelling of feet or lower legs,
yellowing of the eyes or skin.
OTHER POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OR ADVERSE REACTIONS
aggressive, combative behavior (roid rage) anaphylactic shock (from
injections), abdominal or stomach pains black, tarry or light-colored
stools, bone pain, breast development (sore or swelling - male) chills,
diarrhea, dark-colored urine, depression, fever, fatigue, feeling of
discomfort, (continuing) frequent urge to urinate (mature males),
feeling of abdominal or stomach fullness, gallstones, hives, headache,
(continuing) hypercalcemia (too much calcium) high blood pressure
impotence, increased chance of injury to muscles, tendons and ligaments
plus longer recovery period from injuries, insomnia, kidney disease,
kidney stones (from hypercalcemia), listlessness, muscle cramps,
menstrual irregularities, nausea or vomiting, purple- or red-colored
spots on body, inside of mouth, or nose rash, septic shock,
(blood poisoning from injections) sexual problems, sore tongue,
unexplained darkening of skin, unexplained weight loss, unnatural hair
growth, unpleasant breath odor (continuing), unusual bleeding, unusual,
weight gain, urination problems, vomiting of blood.
Mark T. King, ACE Certified Personal Trainer
The message they are pushing is getting through, and I’m not so sure it’s a bad thing. It should help keep a lot of the high school kids away.
